No plan for Landis as manager departs

Closure is imminent as no savior emerges

Sep. 30, 2013

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VINELAND — Appel Farm Arts & Music Center ended a brief turn as manager of the Landis Theater on Monday, an unhappy finale for two nonprofits now on different paths.

The Appel Farm tenure, cut short one year into what had been planned as a three-year run, delivered a well-attended final weekend. The financially struggling theater sold out three showings of Disney’s “Little Mermaid Jr.”

“It was a fantastic show,” Gary Galloway, vice president of the Landis Theater Foundation, said. “It’s a shame Appel can’t be there to continue with the kids. It’s probably the best show they did.”

Meanwhile, Appel Farm on Monday confirmed major changes in its operating plans for next year. For starters, its high-profile and long-running arts and music festival won’t be held next summer. That change is part of a recent board of trustees decision to refocus on programs that offer better and steadier revenues, according to board President Denise Hayman-Loa.

Galloway said the Landis Theater Foundation, which owns the performing arts center once seen as a key element of downtown Vineland’s rebirth, has had no solid leads on a replacement operator. A hoped-for rescue by city government hasn’t come about, he said.

“We’ve had a couple people express some kind of interest,” Galloway said. “But when you tell them what’s involved, they don’t come back a second time.”

For October, the theater is booked only for a political debate and a performance by the Atlantic City Ballet. The theater itself probably will close and shut off utilities unless future bookings are secured, Galloway said.

Telephone service and the theater website won’t be maintained after October, he said.

“In the foundation’s opinion, the closing of the Landis Theater did not have to happen,” Galloway added. “I don’t know what happens after tomorrow.”

Hans Lampart, developer of the Landis Theater property, said the crowd Sunday was filled with “tearful children and adults.”

“These weekend shows were bittersweet for me and Lori DiMatteo Fiocchi as the one who started the children’s programing over three years ago,” he said. “Under the guidance of Teddy Petrie, the children’s shows here at the Landis were not only successful for the theater but also produced and nurtured many talented kids throughout the period.”

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The Landis Theater property also incorporates Mori’s restaurant, although it is a separate business and tenant. The restaurant was forced to close Sept. 20 when the city cut off its electrical service for lack of payment.

As for Appel Farm, Hayman-Loa said the Elmer-based nonprofit has not officially disclosed the decision to cancel the 2014 festival.

“It’s still early,” she said. “We could still change our mind. If a corporation came around and said, ‘Here’s $50,000,’ we’ll do it. For many of us, it’s a fun event.”

On hiatus

Appel Farm has canceled the festival in prior years, and Hayman-Loa said the event can be considered now as only on “hiatus.” The 2014 festival would have been the 25th since its inception.

Appel Farm Executive Director Lorenzo Thomas said the layoffs for his organization totaled five full-time employees. The list includes four staffers hired to help at the Landis Theater, he said.

Vinelander David Manders, an Appel Farm trustee and its past president, said “a realignment in job descriptions” was needed with the end of the theater contract.

Hayman-Loa said that, without the time-consuming festival, the center can concentrate on two profit-making programs:

• The first program is Appel Farm’s trademark summer children’s camp, which drew its largest attendance in its history this year.

“That’s our flagship product, and that’s how the place was founded — based on the arts and music camp,” Hayman-Loa said. “We had over 400 kids this year, and that’s with the economy. That high means we are doing a good job.

• The second program is a growing business of providing music and arts courses on a contract basis to public schools.

“We’ve had great results from camp this year, great results from our educational program,” Hayman-Loa said.

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